Strengthening foundations for social protection in Lebanon

© ILO

© ILO

BEIRUT (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO) and the Université Saint Joseph – Centre de Formation Professionnelle (USJ-CFP), and with support from the European Union, held the Foundational Course in Social Protection from 3 to 6 March 2025 at the USJ campus in Beirut. The four-day training brought together senior technical professionals from key national institutions to strengthen their capacities in designing, implementing, and coordinating social protection systems in line with Lebanon’s National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) and international best practices.

The course builds on a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme held throughout July 2024 which brought together 12 national technical experts and social protection practitioners to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively deliver the foundational course, ensuring the course is grounded in international standards, national knowledge and context.

This foundational course serves as the first step towards establishing a Lebanon-based Social Protection Academy, offering continuous capacity-building opportunities for national stakeholders.

Participants were invited to join from government entities including the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), Ministry of Labour (MoL), National Employment Office (NEO), and the Civil Servants Cooperative (CSC). Their active involvement in policy formulation, programme design, and administration ensures that the knowledge gained will directly contribute to strengthening institutional coordination and advancing Lebanon’s social protection agenda.

© ILO

© ILO

“We are grateful to all participants for their contribution to the success of the Foundational Course. We have had collective discussions on key policy, institutional, and operational elements, the energy in the room was tangible – and we aim at transforming this spirit into concrete reform steps of the Lebanese social protection system.” – Giulio Bordon, ILO Social Protection Technical Officer.

Throughout the four days, participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum covering the fundamental principles, governance frameworks, financing mechanisms, and practical tools for extending social protection coverage. Interactive sessions led by national and international experts provided a platform for knowledge exchange, case study analysis, and peer-to-peer discussions.

“I am delighted and honoured to have participated as a training facilitator in the Social Protection Training Program in Beirut. The participants demonstrated their eagerness and commitment by being responsive and looking forward to the implementation of the Lebanese Social Protection Strategy. Their resilience is remarkable despite the many challenges and hardships that they have experienced.

The training has provided the participants with a toolkit and a range of good governance practices to place them in a position to start the progressive realization of a human rights and integrity-based Social Protection system which will make a much-needed impact and transform the quality of life in Lebanon.” – Virginia Petersen, Lead Trainer of the foundational course and Former CEO of the South African Social Security Association.

Participants were awarded certificates of participation, signifying the commencement of their learning journey within the Social Protection Academy. This initiative will continue with specialized modules, including forthcoming courses on social insurance and social health protection. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to Lebanon’s long-term objective of institutionalizing capacity development in the field of social protection.

© ILO

© ILO

“One of the key benefits of this course was the opportunity to engage directly with international trainers who possess extensive expertise; through them, we were exposed to global and regional experiences which provided us with a comprehensive vision of social protection, its implementation, and relevant approaches. The course brought together representatives from various entities whose mandates intersect in the field of social protection, this enabled a direct understanding of the practical realities within institutions and ministries, as well as the challenges that hinder the delivery of social coverage to all segments of society. We extend our sincere gratitude to the International Labour Organization for this course and look forward to a new training that builds on these key topics and translates them into practical applications across ministries and public institutions involved in social protection.” – Dr. Batoul Khansa, advisor to the Minister of Labour.

“Participating in the Foundational Course on Social Protection in Lebanon has been an enriching experience. It provided valuable insights into global best practices and reinforced the importance of strengthening social protection systems to ensure inclusivity and sustainability. This training is a crucial step toward enhancing our expertise and commitment to effective policy development and implementation” – Chawki Abou Nassif, Finance Director at the National Social Security Fund and foundational course participant.

This initiative falls under the EU-funded project “Addressing life-cycle vulnerabilities through social protection – Establishing Social Grants in Lebanon” implemented jointly by the ILO and UNICEF.